Foreperson - Five Borough Program

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- Five Borough Program role at Central Park Conservancy

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Join to apply for the Foreperson
- Five Borough Program role at Central Park Conservancy

Reports to: Manager – Landscape Management

Department: Landscape Management

Status: Full time, Non-Exempt

About the Central Park Conservancy

Central Park is one of the world's most famous and beloved public spaces. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1858, the 843-acre Park was the country's first purpose-built public park and is a National Historic Landmark and a New York Scenic Landmark. Central Park Conservancy, a private, not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1980 to rescue the Park, which had fallen into serious disrepair.

Since then, the Conservancy has overseen the investment of over $1.6 billion in the restoration of the Park, which now hosts over 40 million visitors a year.

The Conservancy is one of the largest and most successful public private partnerships in New York City and is considered a major civic institution given its impact on the health and vibrancy of both the Park and the City. The Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and celebrate Central Park as a sanctuary from urban life. The City of New York has formally entrusted the care of the Park to the Conservancy which is responsible for every aspect of its care, including landscape maintenance, capital improvements, and the visitor experience.

The Conservancy employs roughly 400 people and has an annual operating budget of $100 million.

The Position:

Working under the Manager and Assistant Manager(s) of the Five Borough Program, the Foreperson is responsible for working alongside and providing daily direction of staff, ensuring all work meets acceptable organizational practices at selected parks outside of Central Park. The work is at four parks in Harlem, with additional locations across the five boroughs of New York City. The Foreperson is expected to work with NYC Parks to perform their primary tasks.

Responsibilities

• Works alongside and provides direction to Groundskeepers
• Monitors staff engagement, productivity, safety, compliance of organizational standards, and status of work assignments.
• Provides technical assistance to Groundskeepers and collaborates with NYC Parks staff engaged in daily landscape maintenance tasks and in the proper use and care of tools, equipment, and materials.
• Ensures all work is in accordance with the established work plan.
• Reports daily on work and training completed.
• Performs mowing, string trimming, watering, weeding, seeding, raking, sweeping, fence installation and repair, and other related duties as assigned including maintaining turf grass areas and athletic fields
• Reports and collaborates on park sanitation, including removal of trash from designated sites. Ensures that waste material is taken to the proper location.
• Supervises the snow removal program and perform duties of snow removal, with machines and physical labor.
• Maintains tools and equipment in good working order and report items that require repair.
• Operates various types of equipment including light or medium weight trucks, wide area mowers and tractors.
• Navigates New York City streets with light or medium weight truck and trailer. Ensures that staff are safely operating trucks and trailers.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Internal & External Collaboration

• Assists in the coordination of projects, planning, and educational opportunities to achieve set work plan goals.
• Collaborates with NYC Parks staff and other personnel in completing assigned tasks.
• Assists in the preparation of special events as needed.
• Builds and maintains positive relationships with Parks Department staff.
• Reports on malfunctioning infrastructure, furnishings, safety hazards, quality of life issues through computer-based work order system.
• Interacts with Park patrons in a professional manner.

Three years of increasingly responsible experience in maintenance work in the field of Landscape Management; or Education and/or experience equivalent to “1” above. However, all candidates must have demonstrated the ability to work well and collaborate with others. Valid Drivers’ License that must be maintained for duration of employment. Possess a fundamental understanding and knowledge of urban park landscape maintenance using modern practices.

Associates Degree from accredited college in a related field, or equivalent combination of skills and experience.

Abilities Required

Ability to provide both oral and written communication that is easily understood and direct in its content. Ability to engage in critical thinking skills that allow for prioritizing issues, coordinating multiple projects and problem solving. Possess a fundamental understanding and knowledge of landscape management; ornamental and native plant material, cyclical care including planting, pruning, weed management and health care issues. Knowledge of computer equipment and Microsoft Office…